buy custom Visit to a Substance abuse Treatment Program, and Analysis essay

buy custom Visit to a Substance abuse Treatment Program, and Analysis essay Descriptive information For this paper, I chose to visit an intensive outpatient program named Meridian in Shrewsbury, NJ. The agency is located in a well maintained building, right of a main highway, reachable by train, car and bus. This is essential, since many of the clients have their driving license suspended due to driving under the influence (DWI), and are dependent on public transportation. The agency serves clients who are committed to following the rules of the program. The requirements of the program are: 1. attending three AA/NA meetings per week. 2. Providing clean urine-samples when requested by the addiction counselor. 3. Attending all classes. Some clients are mandated to attend the IOP by either court, division of youth and family services (DYFS), Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC), or by their significant other, while others attend the program on their own consent. As the group is composed of age, gender, and ethnicity diversity, the counselor is often confronted with problematic group-dynamics, and needs to have solid facilitating skills to ensure the group runs smoothly and the recovery process is not compromised. The clients schedule their intake session, where they are interviewed, and a full bio-psychosocial assessment is executed. At ingestion, the client is requires to take a urine test, which, although many times is expected to come back positive, is still central, to evaluate what types of mind altering substances the client is taking, and to show them that the agency is a serious place, where people come to recover and achieve sobriety. At intake, the client is provided with an option to see the psychiatrist, to ensure further mental health issues are properly addressed. Dependent on the clients diagnosis, they are referred to as either level 1 or level 2 care. Level 1 is usually recommended for a diagnosis of mind altering substances abuse; these are clients who are beginning to develop a problem, but are not yet dependent on the substances. Clients, who are diagnosed with dependence, are referred to as level 2. Since level 1 is a prior level of treatment, their group meets only once a week for three hours during a 6 weeks period, while level 2, a more intense program, meets three times per week for three hours. Once a week, the group is focused towards the family of the addict. Clients are encouraged to bring their parent(s), significant other, or anyone else they feel can gain from a heightened awareness and understanding of substance abuse issues. This group is important, since their knowledge and participation, can have a positive impact on the overall recovery process. In general clients are not transferred from level 1 to level 2, unless a particular client indicates to develop a dependency, in which, the counselor might decide to transfer that client to level 2. The counselor monitors group attendance, and randomly administers urine screening to the clients. Depending on each individual client, positive test-results could be a reason to terminate the client. After completing the 16-week program, clients are encouraged to participate in an after-care group which meets once a week for one hour. This group is facilitated by the same counselor as the IOP, and will ensure the client remains in recovery and not become complacent. Furthermore, the client is provided with a meeting-list and is advised to continue attending at least 90 twelve-step meetings in 90 days. When a client is mandated to attend to attend the IOP program, a letter will be provided to confirm successful completion of the agenda. The group follows the Matrix model (Matrix Institute, 2007), which provides the participant with education regarding the dangers of substance abuse, identifying relapse triggers, prevention tools, and follows the twelve-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Theoretical approaches Richard A. Rawson et al (2003) describes the bio-psychosocial Matrix model as a technique that merges techniques and materials from the cognitive behavioral therapy, and includes providing the client with accurate information on the effects of stimulants, family education, 12-Step program participation and positive reinforcement to alter old behaviors. Richard A Rawson et al (1995) states, the goals of the Matrix model to be: a) cease drug use b) remain in a treatment process for twelve month c) learn about issues critical to addiction and relapse d) receiving direction and support from a trained therapist e) receive education for family afflicted by the addiction f) become familiar with the self-help programs, and g) receive monitoring via urine testing. The therapist needs to be a well trained counselor who creates a positive and healthy affiliation with the group that re-enforces positive behavior change. Although the counselor is direct and realistic, extreme caution needs to be exercised to steer clear of confrontation with the client. Richard A. Rawson et al (1995) understands one of the chief tasks of the therapist as a person who provides confidence, dignity and self-esteem to the client. This humanistic, client-oriented model is crucial for the addict recuperation, since usually clients come in to be treated, after having reached their rock-bottom, as battered people whose self esteem and dignity has been severely beaten. According to Richard A. Rawson (1995) the urine-screenings, randomly performed, are not as a punitive or legal purpose, but rather to assess where the client is holding in the recovery, and as a point of discussion. Bradford T. Winslow (2007) found that randomly urine tests actually rewards clients, since they feel pleased when they are able to proof their abstinence to the counselor, and motivates them from relapsing during the treatment program. Jeanne L. Obert et al. (2005) has a slight different perceptive what the role of the counselor should be. They stress that the counselor is that of a cheerleader, teacher, coach and counselor. The task of the psychotherapist is more to proffer education regarding the physical and emotional harm that these mind-altering substances impact on the human body and to teach them skills to prevent relapse. It seems to be more focused on the current day tools, vs. focusing on addictive behaviors, and past resentments often causing the client to start using these chemicals and relapse. The purpose of the group setting in the Matrix model is well illustrated by Washton (2002); the participants are aided by support of the group, to move toward involvement in treatment, and willingness to change. Peer support is a fundamental element of the logic behind the group-setting, since sharing each others experiences, gives the individual the courage to attain the same what has been achieved by his or her peer, and learn different tactics in achieving the goal of sobriety. Another motive of the group-setting is the embarrassment participants will experience if they relapse during the program. In 2002, Richard A. Rawson, PhD accentuates the advantages of the matrix model over the existing outpatient programs, that is, the structure the matrix model provides in treating the addict, while the traditional outpatient programs are inadequately structured. He further reinforces the elements of individual psychotherapy which is not always implemented into the matrix model. In the agency which I have visited, the agency does not provide individual therapy despite the fact that they follow the matrix model religiously. Obert et al. (2000) identifies the matrix model as easy to use, research-based materials to front-line clinicians, and their clients. The matrix model is different than other treatment model by the fact that it has been developed in a clinical setting, and has constantly been modified through field-testing. The client gets an easy to read hand-out with various exercises developed in educating the client in a non-confrontational way. A key component of the model is the fact tat the client and the counselor are collaborators in the recovery process, which is achieved by implementing the motivational interviewing approach designed by Miller and Rollnick (2002); this therapeutic alliance encourages the client to put all effort in their recovery process. Obert et al. (2000) sees the goals of the model as: a) Create explicit structure and expectations b) establish a positive collaborative relationship with the client c) teach clients and their families empirical information and cognitive-behavioral concepts d) positive reinforce desired behavioral change e) provide corrective feedback when necessary f) educate the family regarding stimulant abuse recovery g) introduce and encourage self-help participation h) use urinalysis and breath alcohol analysis to monitor drug and alcohol use on a random schedule. Critical analysis of treatment Although research has proven the matrix model to be effective, (Obert et al. 2000), there are many reservations regarding this model. One of the key concerns in opposition to this model is the fact that it is based exclusively upon the cognitive behavioral method, which focuses on modifying current behaviors, but fails to analyze and address underlying issues which play a significant role in causing addiction. Furthermore, manual based therapy compromise the therapeutic relationship with the client, despite it developing a therapeutic bond. Many counselors were skeptical of the matrix model, due to the fact that it treats clients who have not experiences their bottom through severe consequences due to their addiction. Simpson, D et al. (1995) have found that clients treated by the matrix model, are more focused on the curriculum than the therapeutic process. Furthermore, they identified three problems; 1. Manual-based treatments ignore individual clients differences 2. Manual-based treatments cannot meet the need of co-occurring disorders 3. Manual-based treatments ignore clients emotions. Brown (2004) sees the issue with the matrix model in the lack of focus on the socioeconomic, cultural and gender issues such as domestic and sexual abuse. These issues are mostly present since the matrix model treats any client in a group setting where the content of the group is determined by the manual, preventing counselors to pay attention to these other aspects in the clients life. Another important concern to the matrix model is pointed out by Anglin, M.D Rawson (2000); since the matrix model is performed in a group setting, you often have clients in different stages of recovery interacting in the same group. Although this can be an advantage, since this enables them to learn from one-another, however, this can also have a negative impact on the individual; since individuals need individual focus on the part most applicable to their point in recovery. Family members play a significant role in recovery. In one study, Morris et al (1992) concluded that substance abuse is considered a family disease, since it affects marital relationships, family and child functioning. This underlines the importance of properly involving family member(s) in the recovery process. This is echoed by Curtis Janzen (2006), who describes the family members as repeatedly experiencing significant mental and physical strain, as a result of their loved ones addiction. Asher Brissett (1988) state that: the family members of substance abusers are part of a dysfunctional family system, in which they often, unwittingly, contribute to the perpetuation of the substance abuse behavior. The family members behavior is often labeled as enabling or co-dependent. Obert et al. (2000) describe in detail why the matrix model undermines the need of the family member: a) Clients are often uncomfortable bringing their family member to group, because they might have disclosed to the group secret information regarding their private lives, and are afraid that this information will accidentally be disclosed by one of the group members. b) It can take clients as much as three to four weeks to stabilize from the crises they often find themselves in when commencing the IOP. It would therefore not be beneficial to bring their family-member to group, since they are unready to discuss their family issues until they have somewhat stabilized their individual situation. c) Clients can be embarrassed to bring in a family member, due to physical or mental issues their family member may have, and which they feel uncomfortable revealing to the group. d) Family members often need numerous sessions to relieve themselves of their experiences, frustration and anger; this need cannot be met by the existing program. e) The family group is mainly focused on educating the family member with the concept that addiction is a disease rather than a bad behavior, whereas, what the family member(s) really require is additional intense group therapy to deal with the hurt, guilt and shame experienced when there is addiction in the family. They also need to be given tools to address enabling and codependency. Another critique on one of the components of the matrix model is the urine-screening process. Clients who are forced to show abstinence, and are not doing it from their free will, are more likely to relapse as soon as the mandated urine screening procedure is finalized. Furthermore, accuracy of urine-screening is often compromised, by showing a positive result due to consumption of poppy seed, or a negative result caused by flushing the system with specially designed liquid for this purpose. (Dupont Baumgartner 1995). Despite the critique on the matrix method, research does have proven the model to be effective. Richard A. Rawson et al (2003), compared outcomes of traditional treatment models to the newly designed matrix model, and found that the clients who were treated by the matrix model were attending more clinical sessions, stayed in treatment longer, provided more negative urine-samples, and had longer periods of abstinence than those treated by more traditional methods. Moreover the matrix model is user friendly and its structure ensures that time invested in the recovery process is properly utilized. Harm reduction model Harm reduction is an approach rather than a goal, and its aim is to reduce or eliminate the negative consequences of drug use rather than eliminating the drug itself. There is am emphasis on the aim of reducing the adverse consequences among individuals who cannot be expected to ease their drug use at the present time for various reasons (Riley et al., 1999). The underlying philosophy is to approach the client in a non-judgmental way, and help the client develop goals personally. (Bradley-Springer, 1996) The rights of the individual are of prime importance, which includes; dignity, and the right to make personal decisions. Harm reduction includes a holistic incremental and multidimensional approach to decreasing risks for individuals and communities. Although the harm reduction model is contradictory to the traditional abstinence model, it may however ne compatible with the eventual goal of abstinence. The model proposes that social support, health assistance, education and disease p revention measures should be minimized. (Bradley-Springer, 1996) Harm reduction contrasts to the prohibition philosophy, also known as the abstinence model. This model concentrates on increasing interdiction, treatment and prevention efforts, combined with keeping mind altering drugs illegal (DuPont and Voth, 1995) The basic process of harm reduction consists of providing the client with a continuum of options for their considerations, ranging from the riskiest behavior to the lease risky behavior. This has dual-purposes; firstly, it allows the client to assess their current behaviors in comparison to both more and less risky behaviors, which may help the client to see where they need to make changes. It may also help the client assess where their behaviors have improved or degenerated over time, giving them a means of measuring the changes in behavior. Furthermore the continuum provides the client with a range of behaviors so that they can choose for themselves the most suitable changes based on their personal circumstances. The theory oof harm reduction acknowledges that there are various external factors which impact upon an individual and may affect their behaviors in ways which they cannot control, or are difficult for them to control. It is for this reason that one of the underpinning criteria of the harm reduction model is that the individual is allowed to choose their own targets based upon what they feel is achievable under their current circumstances. These environmental factors could be family related, peer related, which would impact on any change the individual tried to make. There could be also a wide array of socioeconomic factors, such as background or occupational history of the client which must be considered. However since the prominence of the harm reduction model is based on changing behaviors, the procedure will assist the individual in identifying areas of their life which are causing a probable conflict of interest. Exploitation of the harm reduction model would as well assist them in forming strategies that enable them to make changes which would facilitate transformation in their behavior. For example if a client were to identify that their behavior is negatively influenced by their work environment, the client may choose to implement strategies which would reduce this influence, or even end it altogether. The emphasis would be on the client to choose these changes, rather than the professional to insist that these changes are deployed. With regards to substance abuse, advocates of using the harm reduction model acknowledge that there are many environmental factors which influence the behavior of a substance abuser. Des Jarlais (1995) claims that the use of non-medical, mind-altering drugs is unavoidable in societies which have access to these drugs. He also states that it is inevitable that drugs will cause harm at both individual and societal levels. Des Jarlais (1995) claims that drug users form an integral part of the larger community and therefore must be included in measures to protect public health. Harm reduction strategies aim to protect substance abusers along with all other members of a community. This is in contrast to prohibition models in which the substance abuser is viewed as an individual describes as a simplistic moral solution to complex human problems (Griffin, 1998). Harm reduction accepts that some harm is inevitable but that the ideal of zero tolerance excludes compromise and sets goals which are not achievable (Riley et al., 1999). The harm reduction model has been applied predominantly to drug misuse issues, however it has successfully been used in many other areas such as; weight loss, tobacco addiction, and alcohol addiction. Many of those who have failed on traditional abstinence programs such as those promoted by Alcoholics Anonymous have made some progress using harm reduction techniques. The techniques have been successful as they set a series of stepping stones which have been decided by the client themselves. This may lead to full abstinence at some time in the future, although that decision is left to the individual themselves and not imposed upon them. (Witkiewitz and Marlatt. 2006). Strength and limitations The major strength of the harm reduction model is that the model can be applied in a non-biased pattern to any selection of the population. The underlying principles are based upon approaching the client in a lenient manner, which should eradicate many of the prejudices which may be associated with other models. For example, some of the groups who are more at risk from substance abuse are those of ethnic minorities and low socio-economic status. Another benefit of the harm reduction model, is that individuals who relapse do not necessary revert all the way back to high risks and unhealthy behaviors. It is imperative that if it happens, that the client is shown that their failure is not absolute, as this will offer encouragement for the client to set new goals and begin the process all over. The main limitation to the model is that in order for the nonjudgmental principles of the approach to be achieved it is necessary for health professional to remove any personal stigma or prejudice. There is no room in the harm reduction model for personal opinions of the health care or social care professional to allow their personal feelings to become involved in the decisions made regarding treatment. This can be a challenging at times especially for those professionals who have worked in the field with other models. Harm reduction theories were first applied to substance abuse in the 1920s when a group of doctors concluded that it may be necessary occasionally to maintain a person on drugs in order to help them lead a more productive life (Griffin, 1998). Critics of harm reduction reject it as being overly permissive in its rejection of strict zero-tolerance policies and its promotion of alternatives to abstinence. Some have labeled it a front for drug legalization. Des Jarlais (1995) Harm reduction programs are often insufficiently coordinated with each other, often overlapping and underfunded. This can lead to a competitive nature between the different harm reduction programs rather than the cooperation which is needed to increase their success (Hilton et al., 2001) One key example of the application of harm reduction to substance abuse is the creation of needle and syringe exchange programs (NSPs) which can prevent HIV/AIDS infections from spreading by providing users with new, sterile syringes in exchange for used syringes, which reduces transmission through needle sharing. NSPs also provide an opportunity to pass out educational materials and facilitate engagement in formal addiction treatment and other social services. Many studies have found that NSPs are effective in reducing injection related risk behaviors as well as reducing incidence of HIV and other blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C (Hilton et al., 2001; Blumenthal et al., 1998) Many countries and organizations have now adopted harm reduction. The World Health Organization (WHO) endorses harm reduction as a strategy to prevent the spread of HIV as it they considered drug use to be less of a threat to individuals and communities than drug use itself (Riley, 1998) Despite current legislation in many countries which prevents the full adoption of the model as the framework for drug misuse treatment, there are still ways in which the principles can be promoted through treatment. The successful reduction of harm is in the interest of all, and harm reduction promises to be a method which is likely to succeed in its objectives by reducing harm to both drug users and those in the wider community. My Conclusion Although we have described the pros and cons both in the matrix model as well as to the harm reduction model, I would individually have a preference to the matrix model, though in some exceptional cases, I would have selected the harm reduction model. When the addict is in his advanced stages of addiction, and repercussions have been dramatic, I would definitely encourage the implementation and realization of the matrix model, in view of the fact that it seems that in such a condition, the patient will not be able to cut the use, thus total abstinence is apposite. When a client is in the beginning stages of substance use, and did not experience severe consequences, it might be advisable to treat that client with the harm reduction model. I would also carefully review the individuals circumstances, in order to assess if self-denial would hinder the clients daily performances, hence going by the harm reduction model. In this paper, I have gained knowledge of the significance of aptly applying the correct model to the client, to ensure their successful recovery. What is also of importance is what seems to be applicable to both models, that is, the concept of motivational interviewing. It is critical to have the client explore their ambivalence, and reach out their own conclusion to seek sobriety. Recovery which is spring out from a persons own desire is more valuable and more sustainable. We, as social workers, have to be extremely vigilant in treating the client, with a vision, that our interaction can bring about transformation to the clients existence. Buy custom Visit to a Substance abuse Treatment Program, and Analysis essay

Laws Regulating Federal Lobbyists

Laws Regulating Federal Lobbyists In public opinion polls, lobbyists rank somewhere between pond scum and nuclear waste. In every election, politicians vow never to be â€Å"bought out† by lobbyists, but often do. Briefly, lobbyists get paid by businesses or special interest groups to win the votes and support of members of the U.S. Congress and state legislatures.   Indeed, to many people, lobbyists and what they do represent the main cause of corruption in federal government. But while lobbyists and their influence in Congress sometimes seem to be out of control, they really do have to follow laws. In fact, lots of them.   Background: The Laws of Lobbying While each state legislature has created its own set of laws regulating lobbyists, there are two specific federal laws regulating the actions of lobbyists targeting the U.S. Congress.   Recognizing the need to make the lobbying process more transparent and accountable to the American people, Congress enacted the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) of 1995. Under this law, all lobbyists dealing with the U.S. Congress are required to register with both the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate. Within 45 days of becoming employed or retained to lobby on behalf of a new client, the lobbyist must register his or her agreement with that client with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House. As of 2015, more than 16,000 federal lobbyists were registered under the LDA. However, merely registering with Congress was not enough to prevent some lobbyists from abusing the system to the point of triggering total disgust for their profession. Jack Abramoff Lobbying Scandal Spurred New, Tougher Law Public hatred for lobbyists and lobbying reached its peak in 2006 when Jack Abramoff, working as a lobbyist for the rapidly growing Indian casino industry, pleaded guilty to charges of bribing members of Congress, some of whom also ended up in prison as a result of the scandal. In the aftermath of the Abramoff scandal, Congress in 2007 passed the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) fundamentally changing the ways in which lobbyists were allowed to interact with members of Congress. As a result of HLOGA, lobbyists are prohibited from â€Å"treating† Congress members or their staff to things like meals, travel, or entertainment events. Under HLOGA, lobbyists must file Lobbying Disclosure (LD) reports during each year revealing all contributions they made to campaign events for members of Congress or other expenditures of efforts they make that might in any way personally benefit a member of Congress. Specifically, the required reports are: The LD-2 report showing all lobbying activities for each organization they are registered to represent must be filed quarterly; andThe LD-203 report disclosing certain political â€Å"contributions† to politicians must be filed twice a year. What Can Lobbyists ‘Contribute’ to Politicians? Lobbyists are allowed to contribute money to federal politicians under the same campaign contribution limits placed on individuals. During the current (2016) federal election cycle, lobbyists cannot give more than $2,700 to any candidate and $5,000 to any Political Action Committees (PAC) in each election. Of course, the most coveted â€Å"contributions† lobbyists make to politicians are the money and votes of the members of the industries and organizations they work for. In 2015 for example, the nearly 5 million members of the National Rifle Association gave a combined $3.6 million to federal politicians opposed to tighter gun control policy. In addition, lobbyist must file quarterly reports listing their clients, the fees they received from each client and the issues on which they lobbied for each client. Lobbyists who fail to comply with these laws face could face both civil and criminal penalties as determined by the Office of the U.S. Attorney. Penalties for Violation of the Lobbying Laws The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House, along with U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) are responsible for ensuring that lobbyists comply with the LDA activity disclosure law. Should they detect a failure to comply, the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House notifies the lobbyist in writing. Should the lobbyist fail to provide an adequate response, the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House refers the case to the USAO. The USAO researches these referrals and sends additional noncompliance notices to the lobbyist, requesting that they file reports or terminate their registration. If USAO does not receive a response after 60 days, it decides whether to pursue a civil or criminal case against the lobbyist. A civil judgment could lead to penalties up to $200,000 for each violation, while a criminal conviction - usually pursued when a lobbyist’s noncompliance is found to be knowing and corrupt- could lead to a maximum of 5 years in prison. So yes, there are laws for lobbyists, but how many of those lobbyists are really doing the â€Å"right thing† by complying with the disclosure laws? GAO Reports on Lobbyists’ Compliance with the Law In an audit released on March 24, 2016, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that during 2015, â€Å"most† registered federal lobbyists did file disclosure reports that included key data required by the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA). According to the GAO’s audit, 88% of lobbyists properly filed initial LD-2 reports as required by the LDA. Of those properly filed reports, 93% included adequate documentation on income and expenses. About 85% of lobbyists properly filed their required year-end LD-203 reports disclosing campaign contributions. During 2015, federal lobbyists filed 45,565 LD-2 disclosure reports with $5,000 or more in lobbying activity, and 29,189 LD-203 reports of federal political campaign contributions. The GAO did find that, as in years past, some lobbyists continued to properly disclose payments for certain â€Å"covered positions,† as paid congressional internships or certain executive agency positions provided as part of the lobbyists’ â€Å"contributions† to lawmakers. GAO’s audit estimated that about 21% of all LD-2 reports filed by lobbyists in 2015 failed to disclose payments for at least one such covered position, despite the fact that most lobbyists told the GAO that they found the rules regarding reporting covered positions as being â€Å"very easy† or   Ã¢â‚¬Å"somewhat easy† to understand.

In all seriousness, what do you think is going to happen with regard Essay

In all seriousness, what do you think is going to happen with regard to global warming and climate change Are we going to make it if so or not, why - Essay Example Global warming/climate change is a human caused problem and the solution also will be provided by humans themselves. We as humans are causing changes to the Earth’s ecosystem and getting affected in return. Therefore, in order to make it through, in order to survive, we should agree to this effort for the conservation of life on Earth. Because if we’re not going to do to anything to prevent global warming/climate change, the countries will become hotter, sea level will rise, there will be an increase in rains and storms and the weather will go to its extreme. We can help reduce the global warming by using the energy sensibly. As everyone knows Global warming is a serious issue and everybody should come together to fight against global warming. These weather extremes affect those the most who are poor, old, very young or sick as they don’t have the capability to deal with the climate changes. But in a broader aspect the climate change/global warming is affecting humans. If we can cause a problem, we can surely solve the problem too. Climate change is a global issue. Dealing with it is a collective responsibility. Yet it is obvious that the world’s poorest countries will be the most affected by it. And failure to reduce global warming will cause a dangerous environment for millions of people. As many poor people already live in a deprived environment where food, clean water and shelter are inadequate– climate change will worsen their condition. As it is obvious that extreme weathers are the impact of global Warming, it will lead us to a state where hot days will become hotter, the rainfalls will become heavier, the flooding will become more frequent, the hurricanes more brutal, the draughts more acute. So as to get through this, all the awareness campaigns and efforts by environmental conservation organizations will not go in vein. They are playing their part and we should play ours by cooperating

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example gained much coverage in the media these days and various supporting and contradicting views about the implementation of this theory in the business are arising. Economists do not deny the existence of corporate social responsibility, but different economists define the responsibility differently. Some economists like Miltion Frideman criticize the idea saying that business is most responsible when it makes profit efficiently not when it misapplies its energy on social projects. (Frideman, 1970). On the other hand, Ralph Nader, defined responsibilities as inclusive of measures necessary to safeguard the interests of society. â€Å"It is hard to imagine the rise of the modern consumer movement without the leadership, resourcefulness, and sheer persistence of Ralph Nader†. (Bollier, 2010). In this paper, I am going to write about the impact of incorporating the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into a corporation’s business and working system. The potential benefits of achieving the CSR through business ethics will be weighed against the financial losses incurred by the corporation and its share holders in way of fulfilling the CSR to evaluate the eligibility of CSR to be adopted in a corporation’s business. The business ethic theory requires corporations to consider it their ethical responsibility to greatly look after the wellbeing of their employees, stakeholders and the society besides focusing on making profits. According to (Agalgatti and Krishna, 2007), there are basically two theories namely the Teleological theory which analyses the results to judge if an action was right or wrong, and the Deontological theory, which classifies duty as a moral category that is not influenced by results. They also noted that the discussion on business ethics is conducted on either or both of them. Basically the business ethic theory necessitates the consideration of social benefits beside making money. On the other hand, (Leave this line as it is

Social survey Essay Example for Free

Social survey Essay Diabetes is the seventh major cause of death in the United States of America. Diabetes is a condition that arises from the inability of the body to produce insulin or to utilize it appropriately. Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for converting blood glucose into a more body friendly form called glycogen. When the body’s ability to convert glucose to glycogen is compromised there is an increase in the blood glucose levels. This is detrimental to the health of an individual because, it causes extensive damage to the blood capillaries resulting to a myriad of other diseases. These include blindness, kidney diseases, amputation of the limbs especially the lower extremities and heart diseases (Aubert, 1995). In 2008, CDC announced that more than 23 million individuals who live in the US have been diagnosed with diabetes. This depicts a three million increase over a period of two years. In addition to this, more than fifty seven million Americans have pre diabetes. More than five million people in the United States have diabetes and they do not know it. This means that doctors often diagnose it when it is too late. This results to the large number of deaths that arise from it (Joslin, 2008). The prevalence of diabetes among minority populations is even higher due to the social inequalities they experience when it comes to medical care. Genetical make up has also been associated with diabetes (Cheta, 1999). African Americans have a 60% higher chance when compared to Caucasians while Hispanics are the most predisposed with more than 90% increased chance. On average, Hispanics have twice the risk of developing diabetes as compared to the white population. Native Americans and Alaskan Natives living in America had extremely alarming rates with more than 16% of the entire population suffering from diabetes. These rates are also evident in children especially teenagers. Researchers identified that in the children they assessed form 1990 to 1995; more than 30% had pre diabetes. This is mainly due to the changes in lifestyle with most American children living sedentary lives with little or no physical exercise. There is a very high correlation between obesity, diabetes, coronary diseases and hypertension among all the ages in the American population. All effort must be therefore geared towards campaigns that will inform and create awareness among the American population especially the young so that there can be a lifestyle revolution to uproot these diseases from the society (Krasnegor, 1990). There is an increase in the efforts of the government and the health practitioners to reduce these rates especially among the younger generation. The best approach is to create awareness to the population regarding diabetes and create collective responsibility that will hopefully result to behavior change. In addition to this the government has been putting a lot of effort to impart knowledge among the citizens on the best methods of managing diabetes (Betteridge, 2000). This study will assess the information that the youth have regarding the causes and prevention of diabetes. Statement of the Problem According to the CDC results, diabetes rates have continued to soar over the last two years. There is an increased incidence at the rate of diabetes in children. Majority of the children in America have pre diabetes, a condition that largely predisposes them to diabetes. Regardless of the race and the social status diabetes, needs to be addressed by everyone. This social survey is therefore very timely as it seeks to find out how much information the youth have regarding to preventing and managing diabetes and how much of these strategies they are implementing on their day to day activities. In order to bring these high rates of diabetes down, it is important to assess the lifestyle of the teenage population and how much information they have regarding the control and the management of diabetes. From these findings the government can prescribe the most effective way of addressing the situation. Objectives of the study †¢ To assess how much information the American teenagers have regarding diabetes. †¢ To determine whether the youth are actively participating in fighting diabetes. †¢ To compare the information that teenagers from different races have. †¢ To determine how much teenagers are emulating from their parents in regard to exercise and diet Research questions How many American teenagers know about the relationship between obesity, coronary diseases, hypertension and diabetes? How many Americans teenagers have been diagnosed with diabetes? Are American teenagers aware of the causes of diabetes? Who American teenagers think as the most likely age group to have diabetes? How much correct information do American teenagers have concerning diabetes? Are American teenagers doing anything to prevent diabetes? 23 million individuals who live in the US have been diagnosed with diabetes. This depicts a three million increase over a period of two years. In addition to this, more than fifty seven million Americans have pre diabetes. More than five million people in the United States have diabetes and they do not know it. This means that doctors often diagnose it when it is too late. This results to the large number of deaths that arise from it (AMA, 2007). Minority populations have experienced majority of these increases. Mexican populations that reside in the United States researchers have reported a sharp increase in child hood diabetes. Researchers have long blamed genetic make up for this predisposition although a recent study indicated that the high blood pressure rates in African Americans are not reflected in West Africa where they originated from. This means that lifestyle is mainly to blame for the predisposition. Obesity is similarly higher in the Hispanic and African American populations. It is the major factor that is triggering the high rates of diabetes and high blood pressure. Research has indicated that the rates of obesity are rapidly increasing among young children and adolescents. African Americans Caucasians and Hispanics teenagers are the most predisposed to diabetes. On average, Hispanics have twice the risk of developing diabetes as compared to the white population. Native Americans and Alaskan Natives living in have also experienced high diabetes rates among their children. This can be attributed to changes in lifestyle with most American children living sedentary lives with little or no physical exercise (Zaidi, 2007). In a study conducted in the late 1990s researchers observed that more than 20% of white girls were overweight. The percentages were even higher in the African-American and Hispanic groups with the black community soaring highest at 31%. These children had high serum cholesterol levels, were hypertensive and had type 2 diabetes at the early stages. What this translates to is that the younger generation will most likely be predominantly obese. As a result, they are more prone to more cardiovascular diseases. These results suggested that children are becoming diabetic at earlier ages (Finucane, 2008). The changes in lifestyle have led most households to live sedentary lives. The predisposition to diabetes is primarily as a result of poor exercise and high caloric intake. A study on the lifestyle trends of the Hispanic population concluded that of the population that was interviewed more than three quarters participated in inadequate or no physical recreational activity. There is also the tendency for children to learn from emulating role models. In the life of a child the role models are usually the family members. A child who comes from a home or a society where exercise is undermined and rarely done will likely also develop a passive lifestyle that will be carried over to adult life (Moran, 2004) There is familial incidence of diabetes. This means that children of diabetic parents are more likely to suffer from diabetes than those form non diabetic patients. From the CDC statistics of 2008, researchers concluded that a quarter of the population above sixty years had diabetes (Colwell, 2003). Gestational diabetes which is prevalent in pregnant women has also been associated with the vulnerable races. In addition, a more determining factor to this is obesity with more overweight pregnant women getting it during pregnancy. Since we all learn from emulating the society, there is need to advocate for collective responsibility so as to eradicate these preventable diseases. By targeting the teenagers as the most influential and vulnerable generation the government can ensure that the future population is making better health conscious decisions. Mode of data collection I will conduct a cross sectional survey research. I will use questionnaires in particular will use face to face interviews. Face to face interviews are effective since they will allow me to use open ended questions. They will also allow the interpretation of complex issues depending on the age of the respondent. They have also been proved to be more effective than other modes since they encourage a more participation and the interviewee learns more. They also encourage the use of visual aids in the interviews (Fowler, 1995). Self completion actively involves the respondent and motivates them to complete as opposed to the other modes. Questionnaires allow the researcher to use longer survey instruments making the research more intensive than the other types of data collection. Respondents have shown a better liking to in person interviews and are more likely to cooperate and answer honestly (Czaja Blair, 2005). However, they are more expensive and prohibit large studies. They are also time consuming taking up a lot of time for data collection. Due to variance altering due to the design effect they require follow ups which are also expensive and time consuming. They also require personnel who are familiar with the locality under study (Czaja Blair, 2005). Because this study involves teenagers as the respondents, face to face interviews would be better so that their cooperation is increased. Sample frame My target population is American teenagers between the age of thirteen and eighteen. This is too large so I will use a smaller working population by restricting the study to one state and in particular one county. After seeking appropriate permission I will use administrative records from the local high schools to create a database of the available population. To remove bias, random numbers will be assigned to each potential respondent and from these numbers random sampling will be done (Hakim, 1987). Since this is a survey research I intend to collect information from respondents themselves. Due to the financial constraints and logistics, I will target on a smaller sample size of one thousand high school students. They will include both female and male teenagers from all the representative American communities. Sampling technique My study population is American teenagers between the age of thirteen and eighteen. This is the most appropriate age because they are making changes and choices for themselves. They are under less parental control. This is a crucial age and most pre diabetic children will be diagnosed at this stage. I intend to use a simple random sample of teenagers between the age of thirteen and nineteen attending local high schools. Random sampling has the benefit of removing bias. It is simple to design and execute and is applicable to any population. Errors of either type one or type two, occur in research. However random sampling allows the easy estimation of these errors and allows the researcher to collect unbiased information. However random sampling is cumbersome for large estimates and highly inconvenient when large populations are being studied (Czaja Blair, 2005). Ethical issues Since my study will involve underage children I will have to seek consent from the guardians and the relevant authorities. As with all studies that involve human beings I will have to ensure that before collection of data, permission will be sought from the respective guardians and the schools so as to obtain information regarding the teenagers. Information regarding the purpose of the study will be frankly explained to both the guardian and the teenager (Punch, 1999). In addition the teenagers’ permission will be crucial and will be sought before the interview. Only with the consent of all involved parties will data collection take place (Vaus, 2002). The study has considered the impact of the research to the teenagers on a later date as a result all the expendable personal information has been removed from the questionnaires. This has removed the risk of exposing the child to psychological, social, financial and physical harm. The study will be conducted anonymously. Confidentiality will be upheld and will only be available to the researchers. In addition the teenagers actual information will not be used anywhere apart from the process of randomization (Vaus, 2002). The researchers will leave the guardians and the teenagers with contact information incase there is further need for clarification even after data collection. The researcher will request for information and not offer threats or bribes in exchange of data. The refusal by any of the teams to cooperate even after due explanation will lead to exemption of the respondent (Cannell etal, 1981) At no time will the rights of the respondent be disregarded. These are the right to privacy and the right to respect meaning that the conduct of the researcher will be professional and courteous at all times (Dijkstra etal, 1982). The information regarding the client will not be diverged. The right of the respondent to choose whether to answer and how to answer will be observed as well as the right to safety. In addition the clients’ right to be to be informed, the right to be heard and to redress will also be observed and the researcher will give all the information the respondent will enquire regarding the study.

The Oppression of Fat People in America Essay -- Obesity Weight Disord

The Oppression of Fat People in America Many people see fat activists as a bunch of whiners who can’t keep their hand out of the cookie jar." — Kimberly, fat activist Being fat is one of the most stigmatizing attributes in America. One cannot live through a single day without encountering numerous forms of fat prejudice in magazines, on television, in the streets, and even in homes. Erving Goffman’s Stigma delineates three types of stigma: abominations of the body, blemishes of individual character, and tribal stigma of race, nation and religion (4). According to Goffman’s definition, being fat is an abomination of the body. Being fat is a highly visible stigma, unlike the stigma of being queer which does not have an outward appearance. According to research in Women’s Conflicts About Eating and Sexuality, "Fat oppression, the fear and hatred of fat people, remains one of the few ‘acceptable’ prejudices still held by otherwise progressive persons" (Meadow 132). In fact, people are obsessed with noticing fat, not getting fat, and pointing out to people that they are fat without hesitation. Unlike other stigmas, fat people are blamed for their condition. Society believes that if fat people really wanted to they could just lose weight and be permanently thin. Fat is not the problem, rather fat oppression endorsed and reinforced by society is the problem. I’ve made a conscious choice to use the word fat in this paper; I’ve already used the word ‘fat’ ten times in the first paragraph. The word ‘fat’ and fat itself have negative connotations in our culture, the reasons for which I will explore in my paper, as well as the way people are instituting positive ideological changes about fat. I use to have a hard time using ‘fat’ t... ...way Books, 1999. Meadow, Rosalyn M., and Lillie Weiss. Women’s Conflicts About Eating and Sexuality: The Relationship Between Food and Sex. New York: Harrington Park Press, 1992. Muà ±oz, Josà © Esteban. Disidentifications: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota, 1999. "NAAFA Online." National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. Online. Internet. 2 Dec. 2000. Available: http://www.naafa.org Orbach, Susie. Fat is a Feminist Issue†¦the Anti-Diet Guide to Permanent Weight Loss. New York: Paddington Press, 1978. Solovay, Sondra. Tipping the Scales of Justice: Fighting Weight Based Discrimination. New York: Prometheus Books, 2000. Wann, Marilyn. Fat!So?. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 1998. Works Consulted Nadius, Beverly. One Size Does Not Fit All. Littleton, CO: Aigis Publications, 1993. The Oppression of Fat People in America Essay -- Obesity Weight Disord The Oppression of Fat People in America Many people see fat activists as a bunch of whiners who can’t keep their hand out of the cookie jar." — Kimberly, fat activist Being fat is one of the most stigmatizing attributes in America. One cannot live through a single day without encountering numerous forms of fat prejudice in magazines, on television, in the streets, and even in homes. Erving Goffman’s Stigma delineates three types of stigma: abominations of the body, blemishes of individual character, and tribal stigma of race, nation and religion (4). According to Goffman’s definition, being fat is an abomination of the body. Being fat is a highly visible stigma, unlike the stigma of being queer which does not have an outward appearance. According to research in Women’s Conflicts About Eating and Sexuality, "Fat oppression, the fear and hatred of fat people, remains one of the few ‘acceptable’ prejudices still held by otherwise progressive persons" (Meadow 132). In fact, people are obsessed with noticing fat, not getting fat, and pointing out to people that they are fat without hesitation. Unlike other stigmas, fat people are blamed for their condition. Society believes that if fat people really wanted to they could just lose weight and be permanently thin. Fat is not the problem, rather fat oppression endorsed and reinforced by society is the problem. I’ve made a conscious choice to use the word fat in this paper; I’ve already used the word ‘fat’ ten times in the first paragraph. The word ‘fat’ and fat itself have negative connotations in our culture, the reasons for which I will explore in my paper, as well as the way people are instituting positive ideological changes about fat. I use to have a hard time using ‘fat’ t... ...way Books, 1999. Meadow, Rosalyn M., and Lillie Weiss. Women’s Conflicts About Eating and Sexuality: The Relationship Between Food and Sex. New York: Harrington Park Press, 1992. Muà ±oz, Josà © Esteban. Disidentifications: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota, 1999. "NAAFA Online." National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. Online. Internet. 2 Dec. 2000. Available: http://www.naafa.org Orbach, Susie. Fat is a Feminist Issue†¦the Anti-Diet Guide to Permanent Weight Loss. New York: Paddington Press, 1978. Solovay, Sondra. Tipping the Scales of Justice: Fighting Weight Based Discrimination. New York: Prometheus Books, 2000. Wann, Marilyn. Fat!So?. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 1998. Works Consulted Nadius, Beverly. One Size Does Not Fit All. Littleton, CO: Aigis Publications, 1993.

Information systems of business Essay

A business have to manage lots of different information. All information systems have 2 big issues, one is the organisation who receive the information and the other is that appropriate members of staff gets the information. A number of policies have to be put in place concerning security of information, backups, health and safety, organisational policies, costs and increasing sophistication. Security of information can be an operational issue. It is all about maintaining the integrity and availability of organisational information and knowledge. Managers need to have the right information available at the right time to make good decisions. The reliance on technology to store information increases which means the risk posed by system failure and malicious attack from viruses also increases. IT security policy should take into account common risks to information the business relies upon. This policy should include secure login id for IT systems and controls that limit access to information. Backups are also an operational issue these are stores on separate hardware from the live versions of the information. Health and safety can be an operational issue. There are many regulations concerning health and safety. The Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 this is the minimum requirements for work stations and includes the extent to which employers must ensure that workstations meet the requirements laid down in this schedules, the equipment, the environment and the interface between the computer and operator. Another is the management of health and safety at work regulations 1992 this is that every imployer shall provide his employees with comprehensible and relevant information.

African American Characteristics Paper Essay

African American culture in the United States refers to the cultural contributions of Americans of African descent to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct from American culture. The distinct identity of African American culture is rooted in the historical experience of the African American people. The culture is both distinct and enormously influential to American culture as a whole. African-American culture is rooted in Africa. It is a blend of chiefly sub-Saharan African and Sahelean cultures. Although slavery greatly restricted the ability of Americans of African descent to practice their cultural traditions, many practices, values, and beliefs survived and over time have modified or blended with European American culture. There are some facets of African American culture that were accentuated by the slavery period. The result is a unique and dynamic culture that has had and continues to have a profound impact on mainstream American culture, as well as the culture of the broader world† (Rydell, 2010). Learning Team B has chosen African Americans as the culturally diverse group we will focus on. The subjects in this paper will be African American history, family characteristics, parenting practices, language, and religion. Also, the primary characteristics of African Americans and how those characteristics impact their experience as a subculture in American Society will be a topic. The last topic will be the implications of the characteristics for psychological theories and practices. History African Americans are the descendants of Africans brought to America during the slavery era. Many were owned as property and forced to work as day laborers in the fields or as servants in their owner’s homes. Others were allowed to work off their debts by being bough and sold on â€Å"the block†. An article titled â€Å"The Slave Auction of 1859 gives a brief account of what it was to be sold on â€Å"the block†: â€Å"The buyers, who were present to the number of about two hundred, clustered around the platform; while the Negroes, who were not likely to be immediately wanted, gathered into sad groups in the background to watch the progress of the selling in which they were so sorrowfully interested. The wind howled outside, and through the open side of the building the driving rain came pouring in; the bar down stairs ceased for a short time its brisk trade; the buyers lit fresh cigars, got ready their catalogues and pencils, and the first lot of human chattels are led upon the stand, not by a white man, but by a sleek mulatto, himself a slave, and who seems to regard the selling of his brethren, in which he so glibly assists, as a capital joke. It had been announced that the Negroes would be sold in â€Å"families,† that is to say; a man would not be parted from his wife, or a mother from a very young child. There is perhaps as much policy as humanity in this arrangement, for thereby many aged and unserviceable people are disposed of, who otherwise would not find a ready sale†¦ â€Å"(New York Daily Tribune, 1928). President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of civil war. The proclamation declared â€Å"that all persons held as slaves† within the rebellious states â€Å"are, and henceforward shall be free. † Despite this expansive wording, the Emancipation Proclamation was limited in many ways. It applied only to states that had seceded from the Union, leaving slavery untouched in the loyal border states. It also expressly exempted parts of the Confederacy that had already come under Northern control. Most important, the freedom it promised depended upon Union military victory. History pages often claim President Lincoln as â€Å"The Great Emancipator† which most educated adults come to learn is an over exaggeration. The general consensus is that Lincoln never freed a single slave, and only used the proclamation as a means to get what he wanted from the states. Once freed most African Americans still experienced racial violence and lived in fear for many years. In 1870 the fifteenth amendment was added to the constitution giving blacks the right to vote. Although blacks were free they were still segregated from the white people, made to go to different schools, stores, and even ride at the back of the bus. In 1954 the supreme courts declared segregation in school unconstitutional due to the Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka Kansas. The civil right movement was at its peak during 1955-1965. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ensuring basic civil rights for all Americans, regardless of race, after nearly a decade of nonviolent protests and marches, ranging from the 1955-1956 Montgomery bus boycotts to the student-led sit-ins of the 1960s to the huge March on Washington in 1963. In 1968 President Johnson signed the Civil Right act prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. Some of the most famous leader of the civil right movement includes Martin Luther King Jr. , Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks and many others. Although civil rights were established many African American still struggled to be treated fairly in America. Affirmative Action was established in 1978 by a ruling of the Supreme Court to ensure that minorities are given an opportunity that they may have missed because of their race. In 2008 Barack Obama was the first African American to be nominated for a major party nominee for president. He was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009. Family and Parenting Characteristics As with most cultures, African Americans place a high value on their families. In the United States African American family’s make-up 12. 9 percent of the population according to the 2003 US Census. The US census also shows that for African Americans over the age of 15 there are 34 percent married, five percent separated, eleven percent divorced, seven percent widowed, and 43 percent were never married. According to the First Things First website, â€Å"African Americans are the most un-partnered group in America† (Medium, 2011, para. 4). One major goal of African American families is communalism, which is very important for effective functioning (Hall, 2010). Hall (2010) describes African American families as having three family types. The first type is the cohesive-authoritative that is explained to be a family with high cohesion along with being supportive, nurturing, and involved with their children (Hall, 2010). The second type of family is the conflictive-authoritarian that is defined as families with conflict and the parents are controlling, critical, and express unhappiness with children (Hall, 2010). The last type of family Hall (2010) explains is the defensive- neglectful, that did not like other racial groups and also did not teach their children to be proud of being an African American. One significant trend that has been determined about the African American family structure is that the more interconnected the family is, the lower the rate of depression in African Americans (Hall, 2010). Based on these findings, a program called Strong African American Families has been created in order to strengthen the relationships between parents and children. According to Hall (2010), â€Å"The Strong African American Families program also has been found to reduce preadolescent risky sexual behaviors, preadolescent alcohol use, and parental depression among African American families† (p.95). This kind of program has been very effective in keeping families cohesive and helping to improve the goal of communalism. Language â€Å"Generations of hardships imposed on the African American community created distinctive language patterns. Slave owners often intentionally mixed people who spoke different African languages to discourage communication in any language other than English. This, combined with prohibitions against education, led to the development of pidginsimplified mixtures of two or more languages that speakers of different languages can use to communicate. Examples of pidgins that became fully developed languages include Creole, common to Louisiana, and Gullah, common to the Sea Islandsoff the coast of South Carolina and Georgia† (Rydell, 2010). It is sad to think that slave owners intentionally put Africans with people who did not speak their language to discourage communication, but is have been researched and proven to be true. Slavery is not the only element to African American culture, and it often seems that when discussing African American culture slavery is the main topic. However, when discussing language the centuries of slavery that they endured have everything to do with the evolution of African-American language. Now that we have covered the origin of African American language we can discuss the American perspective of where modern day African American language stands, and how this effects the culture. â€Å"African American Vernacular English (AAVE)—also called African American English; less precisely Black English, Black Vernacular, Black English Vernacular (BEV), or Black Vernacular English (BVE)—is an African Americanvariety(dialect, ethnolect and sociolect) of American English. Non-linguists sometimes call it Ebonics(a term that also has other meanings or strong connotations) or jive or jive-talk. Its pronunciation is, in some respects, common to Southern American English, which is spoken by many African Americans and many non-African Americans in the United States. There is little regional variation among speakers of AAVE. Several creolists, including William Stewart, John Dillard, and John Rickford, argue that AAVE shares so many characteristics with Creole dialects spoken by black people in much of the world that AAVE itself is a Creole dialect; while others maintain that there are no significant parallels. As with all linguistic forms, its usage is influenced by age, status, topic and setting. There are many literary uses of this variety of English, particularly in African-American literature† (Rydell, 2010). Of course this information does not imply that all African Americans speak a version of AAVE, only that it is very common and prevalent throughout the modern day African American culture. Religion In the African American community religion plays an extremely significant role. â€Å"The story of African-American religion is a tale of variety and creative fusion. Enslaved Africans transported to the New World beginning in the fifteenth century brought with them a wide range of local religious beliefs and practices. This diversity reflected the many cultures and linguistic groups from which they had come. The majority came from the West Coast of Africa, but even within this area religious traditions varied greatly. Islam had also exerted a powerful presence in Africa for several centuries before the start of the slave trade: an estimated twenty percent of enslaved people were practicing Muslims, and some retained elements of their practices and beliefs well into the nineteenth century. Preserving African religions in North America proved to be very difficult. The harsh circumstances under which most slaves lived—high death rates, the separation of families and tribal groups, and the concerted effort of white owners to eradicate â€Å"heathen† (or non-Christian) customs—rendered the preservation of religious traditions difficult and often unsuccessful. Isolated songs, rhythms, movements, and beliefs in the curative powers of roots and the efficacy of a world of spirits and ancestors did survive well into the nineteenth century. Historically during their most difficult times the African American relied on their religious beliefs to endure. During the civil rights movement black churches were often the target of racial violence because that was a place that African Americans spent most of their time. This was a place where they often held meetings to discuss their civil rights efforts. African Americans practice a number of religions, but Protestant Christianity is by far the most prevalent. Some African and African American also follow the Muslim and Judaism. According to Fife, Kilgour, Canter and Adegoke (2010), â€Å"African spiritual traditions have historically held a central place in African American communalism (Mbiti, 1990) and were vital to survival during the time of slavery. In African and African American culture the concept of spirituality is inseparable from all other aspects of human experience. The spiritual and the physical are indistinguishable (Mbiti, 1990). A deep connection exists between humans, God, family, and group (Barrett, 1974). Spirituality is not compartmentalized into systematized beliefs and practices but woven into everyday experience (Boyd Franklin, 1989). The Black church is the primary means through which many African Americans express their religious and spiritual beliefs and values (Richardson & June, 1997). This institution is a central force in African American childhood and adolescent identity and helps to shape ideas about what comprises community. † Many African American children have christen ceremonies for they can even walk or talk. African American families generally spend a substantial amount of time within their places of worship. Conclusion For review, the big questions the above research addressed were: †¢What are the primary cultural characteristics of this selected group? †¢How do the characteristics of this group impact its experience as a subculture in American society? †¢How might the cultural aspects of this group be applied to traditional psychological theory? †¢What are the implications of these characteristics for psychological theory and practice? We have found that the primary cultural characteristics of the African America culture are their history of slavery in America, distinct family and parenting practices, slavery based evolution of their language, and their dedicated religious beliefs. The characteristics of this group impact its experience as a subculture in American society by enticing others in to the culture and sparking curiosity around the world. African Americans make up a small percentage of the minority in America. However African American culture dominates the world of music, fashion, and professional sports. The cultural aspects of the African American group can be applied to traditional psychological theory when considering family dynamics, cultural perspectives, and how these aspects influence mental health. The implications of these characteristics for psychological theory and practice would focus on how the African American history of slavery in America influences their world view, how family and parenting practices mold their ideals of what a family should be, how religion influences their beliefs and actions, and how language distinguishes them from others and what psychological impact this has on them as a whole. For many years African-American culture developed separately from mainstream American culture, both because of slavery and the persistence of racial discrimination in America, as well as African-American slave descendants’ desire to create and maintain their own traditions. Today, African-American culture has become a significant part of American culture and yet, at the same time, remains a distinct cultural body. References Fife, J. , McCreary, M. , Kilgour, J. , Canter, D. , & Adegoke, A. (2010). Self Identification Among African American and Caucasian College Students. College Student Journal, 44(4), 994. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Hall, G. C. N. (2010). Multicultural psychology (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Medium. (2011). First Things First. Retrieved from http://firstthings. org/page/research/african-american-family-facts New York Daily Tribune, March 9, 1859 reprinted in Hart, Albert B. , American History Told by Contemporaries v. 4 (1928). Retrieved from http://eyewitnesstohistory. com Rydell, R. J. , Hamilton, D. L. , & Devos, T. (2010). NOW THEY ARE AMERICAN, NOW THEY ARE NOT: VALENCE AS A DETERMINANT OF THE INCLUSION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE AMERICAN IDENTITY. Social Cognition, 28(2), 161-179. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

How to Become a Cardiovascular Technologist

How to Become a Cardiovascular Technologist You may consider yourself an expert in affairs of the heart (or, like many of us, less than expert but determined to keep going), but can you work an EKG machine? How about defibrillator paddles? For those, you need fully trained professionals- cardiovascular technologists. If you’re looking for a healthcare career that’s on the forefront of heart health and emergency medicine, becoming a cardiovascular technologist could be the right path for you. The Role of  Cardiovascular TechnologistsCardiovascular technologists work with physicians and other medical professionals to treat diseases and issues that affect a patient’s heart (cardiac) and blood vessels (vascular system). These techs specialize in the equipment and procedures used to diagnose heart disease, provide emergency treatment, or treat chronic diseases. Cardio technologists’ responsibilities may include:Performing stress tests on patientsTaking patient historiesImplanting stents, pacemakers, an d other internal devices that treat heart ailmentsUse defibrillators and other equipment to perform life-saving treatment during heart attacks or other emergency situationsUsing diagnostic or imaging equipment such as electrocardiograms (ECGs/EKGs), Holter monitors, X-ray, sonograph, and other biomedical tools and devicesThere’s also opportunity to specialize. Many cardiovascular technologists choose to focus on particular areas:Cardiology- Technologists specialize in implanting catheters, pacemakers, and other internal devices.Echocardiography- Technologists specialize in using ultrasound equipment to test and diagnose.Electrocardiography- Technologists specialize in performing EKGs, running stress tests, and fitting patients with monitors that record heart activity.Vascular technology- Technologists specialize in monitoring blood flow.This is also a role that involves a lot of direct patient interaction and care as well as technical expertise, so a good bedside manner is es sential for cardiovascular technologists. Cardiovascular technologists typically work in hospitals or clinics in cardiac catheterization labs (also known as cath labs), which are specialized examination rooms set up with cardiac-specific equipment. They can also be found in other types of diagnostic labs as well.The BenefitsBecoming a cardiovascular technologist offers a number of benefits, both unique to the job itself and general to jobs in healthcare:Increasing demand. As a society, our heart health†¦isn’t great (thanks for that, delicious bacon). As the need for more diagnosis and treatment grows, so will the demand for the technologists who specialize in the heart.A full-time schedule. Cardiovascular techs typically work a standard 40-hour work week, although this may include nights, weekends, or periods of being on call.No advanced degree required. Cardiovascular technologists typically complete a 2-4 year program that includes instruction in biology in medical sci ence, as well as training them on equipment and completing clinical rotations. A master’s degree is typically not necessary.Being a superhero. Those who specialize in cardiac issues are taking on a very demanding task, but are also taking part in a literally life-saving career.The QualificationsAs a cardiovascular technologist, you can expect to meet these preliminary requirements:A high school diploma (or equivalent), plus completion of a 2-4 year degree or certificate program. If you take a two-year associate’s program, you can expect to spend an additional 1-2 years if you want to specialize in a particular area.Clinical training (often provided on the job).Any training program you undertake will need to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).In addition to the educational requirements, you should also have these skills:Good bedside manner for patient careProblem solving skills in high-pressure situationsCompute r skillsStrong technology/equipment handling skillsExpertise in biology, anatomy, physiology, and medical terminologyThe ability to work on your feet for long periods at a time, often wearing protective gear like lead vestsThe DecisionOnce you feel comfortable that you have these skills and qualifications (or are interested in pursuing them), it’s time for a pre-flight checklist to make sure you’re committing to the right path.Are you comfortable in a fast-paced, pressure-filled medical environment with potential crisis situations?Are you extremely detail-oriented?Are you unfazed by blood and bodily fluids in your professional environment?Are you able to keep calm and do what you need to do no matter what’s going on around you?Can you commit to the education and training it takes to become a cardiovascular technologist?Are you willing and able to keep on top of medical equipment and technology trends?â€Å"Yes† is the optimal answer to all these, but itâ €™s important to be honest. If you feel like you’re not going to be able to be the person wielding the paddles in an emergency heart attack situation, now is the time to admit that to yourself. If you feel like you can overcome any initial obstacles and meet the baseline requirements, then this really might be the right path for you.The OutlookAs you read earlier, this is a career path with a very bright outlook right now. Healthcare in general is growing by leaps and bounds, and cardiovascular health is a major part of healthcare needs now and for the foreseeable future. The median salary for cardiovascular technologists is $54,880, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau also projects that the field will grow by an astonishing 22% by 2024, faster than most other careers. And in fact, U.S. News and World Report lists it as #13 in its survey of Best Health Support Jobs. This is a promising career path that is demanding and will challenge you every day, but it is also one that provides great rewards, and puts you at the forefront of modern medicine.If you think that becoming a cardiovascular technologist is the right choice for you, good luck!

Snuck and WH

From Our Readers – Sneak/Snuck and WH From Our Readers Sneak/Snuck and WH From Our Readers Sneak/Snuck and WH By Maeve Maddox Sometimes I get comments via the Contact box that I wish had been posted in the comments for everyone to enjoy. Sneaking up on Snuck Heres what A.G. of Clearwater, Florida had to add: Ah, the wonderful vagaries of the English language! Sneak/sneaked is in line with leak/leaked, peak/peaked, peek/peeked, or reek/reeked. On the other hand, if speak/spoke, why not sneak/snoke? Or, if seek/sought, why not sneak/snought? [shudder] With tongue in cheek, I remain faithfully yours [oh, no, lets not start that one up again!]†¦ Pronouncing Words That Begin with WH Maria Cypher, she who inspired the WH post, sent the following link to a map that shows where clusters of [hw] speakers practice their funny pronunciations. Map showing [hw] pronunciations. Note the dot in the center of Arkansas. Thats where [hwer] I grew up. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply withâ€Å"As Well As† Does Not Mean â€Å"And†What Is a Doctor?

Observation of a biligual child Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Observation of a biligual child - Essay Example The class that I am observing is a key stage one classroom which is a year one class and the children are aged between five and six. The classroom environment is filled with exciting displays and a separate display for language of the month which is currently Urdi. According to Baker (2006) the school setting is vital in developing the first language of any bilingual pupil. The children are split into different grouping according to their abilities. Flowers is the theme of this classroom daffodils, tulips, lilies and poppies this is their abilities settings for numeracy reading and literacy there is a BTA ( Bilingual teaching assistant) in class as well she will work with the EAL children ( English as an additional language) regardless of their abilities. Research (Cummins 1981, Collier and Thomas 1989) show that, it takes as long as seven years for EAL pupils to acquire a level of English proficiency compared to their monolingual peers. Teachers cannot wait till EAL pupils to develop high levels of English language ability before embarking on the demands of the national curriculum but must enable pupils to participate in curriculum context learning while they are simultaneously learning English (Gravelle, 2000) children's use of language in school differs from the language used outside of school. In addition, different academic subjects' areas have specific genres or registers. An important aspect of an inclusive curriculum is that the mainstream class teacher and the EAL/EMAG specialist should work together; to ensure that academic context is linked to language objectives and that language objectives are compatible with academic context. The lesson that I was observing was a literacy lesson and the teacher firstly went over the class rules which took approximately ten minutes then we started our literacy lesson the Bilingual Teaching Assistant (BTA) sat with the four EAL focus children on one table when there is a BTA in a classroom she always sits with the EAL children regardless of their abilities. The children in the group where Somalia and Tamil speakers (Some of them came from war torn countries and have seen a lot of war and poverty). The literacy lesson was to understand the features of a non- chronological report, such as an introduction impersonal language and present tense. The teacher asked the children what the features where of a non chronological report a Somalian child put his hand up and said "not in order" although his answer was partly correct when the teacher asked him to explain what he meant he was not able to answer even with the BTA help the teacher did not take into account of his English know ledge may not be enough to explain his thoughts further. The BTA was able to explain clearly in his home language as well as use a white board to record their thoughts and draw a diagram as a visual aid the BTA praised all the children relevantly. Moreover as the focus children in group two were Somalia speakers the BTA was able to explain clearly in their home language as well as used a white board to record their thoughts and also used a sheet containing a diagram of visual aid. The BTA praised all the children relevantly however, being one of the largest multi ethnic school in the

Project management---management of project organization Essay - 3

Project management---management of project organization - Essay Example These include space shuttle programs and humanitarian projects. In such projects anything can go wrong, therefore planning, execution, and management has to be as efficient as possible. The room for error in a space shuttle program is very small compared to that of, say, an agricultural project. In the former, everything from conceptualization to implementation has to be done to the highest standards, meaning more resources and personnel are required. In addition, much better management of those resources and personnel is vital. Professional bureaucracy best describes the organizational form of a research university (e.g. Harvard or USyd). This is because the characteristics of a professional bureaucracy correspond to the nature and structure of a research university. These characteristics are, as described by Minztberg, â€Å"decentralized and coordinated through standardization of skills. In its operating cores are a group of highly trained specialists/professionals who have considerable operating authority in their work. Much of the power rests with the professionals and they collectively control (as in professional partnership structure) the administrative apparatus (Strategic Apex). It is typically supported by relatively large number of staff to carry out routine tasks and to leverage the high- priced professionals in general. The employees typically operate in a complex and stable environment. It adapts to complexity through extensive training of staff while adapts to stability by developing standar d operating procedures. Age and size are not important design factors†. On the other hand, adhocracy best describes the organizational form of a project based organization. This is because the characteristics of a project based organization correspond to those as described by Minztberg, which are â€Å"typically operates in a complex and dynamic environment that demands innovative solutions. It relies on mutual adjustment for